Doll structure



1. FELKNER.

DOLL STRUCTURE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. l0, l92l.

Patented Jan. 3, 1922.

l Nve; N To Q. Jessie Zz/FeZV/er.

MATTGQHEYS.

l Be `it known that I, JEssIE W.

anni, rice.

JESSIE WQ FELKNER, OF IOWACITY, IOWA.

DOLL STRUCTURE.

:canaglia To all whom 'it may concern. l i

FELKNER, a citizen of the United States, residing-at Iowa City, in the county of Johnson and State of Iowa, have Vinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Doll Structuresg'and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as'will enable others skilled in the art to which itV appertains to makeand use the same.

rhis invention relatesl to improvements in Vthe manufacture of dolls, and particularly embodies certain structural characteristics, as will hereinafterrappear, 'together ywith an improved method of carrying forward the saine. i v Y Although some of my improved features may well be employed with types of dolls other than thosecom'monly 'designated as rag dolls, and hence I donot specifically Vlimit the general application of my improvements,

' Istill the' invention as a `wholehas been more particularly devised with especial reference to providing a comparatively indestructible stuffed doll, that is unaffected by ordinary hea-t and moisture, and one which is formed with pliable Yimitation flesh portions, including 'the face, neck, shoulders, chest and upper back portionsthe face being artistically handpainted with a personal touch to lend individuality to each doll, while the pliability of the face structure, in conjunction with its hand painting,'will impart a more or less mobile appearing countenance or animated life-like expression.

In addition to the foregoing and other objects and advantages, which will clearly appear as incidental to the following disclosure, further important features may be emphasized at the outset as embodying the particular mode of attaching the wig, `the soft background packing for the pliable face, the internal neck support extending between the head and upper bodytrunk, the particularforination of the face and other pliable imitation fleshy portions, and the method of assembling, securing together and stuffing the parts. Y

lilith these e 1grefacing reinarksfreference will now be immediately had to the accompanying drawings, illustrating practical Y eii'ibodinients of the improvements, in which drawings- Y Figure 1 is a side elevational view `ofaV e 'specification of Letters Patent.

rag stuffed doll embodying my improvevalthough it may be bobbed, andv a bang-strip being Y illustrated, forwardly of the Awig proper; Figure 2 is a sectional view -on an enlargedscalertaken in a vertical plane extending forwardly and rearwardly, and also illustrating a special seat flap for stuffing purposes; Figure 3 is a side elevational View of the upper portion of the doll, partly Y broken away sectionally, the hair of the vfor the trunk ofthe body and the dummy head at the rear of the face portion, `just as they are illustrated although I do not restrict myself to all Yof the details as shown.

These casing elements may be lfrontand rear patterned sections `10 and 11, that are stitchedtogether up thesides, as at `12, and providev a normally open bottom.

EachA casing section is formed of a plurality of layers of suitable fabric, two such layers being shown, and of which the inner layer may be of substantially heavier texture than the outer layer', which latter is in the nature of a finishing layer.

Asseen at 13, the stuffed legs 14 are stitched to the lower front section and also as seen at 15, a-bottom flap closure 16 is stitched at its forward edge to the front section along the upper rear edges of the legs, the flapbeing adapted to be left otherwise unsecured v'until the body is stuffed,

after'whichit is stitchedto the rear sec- 'manner 20 and 21, respectively, may be l :Patented Jan. 3, 1922. .Application filedl Marchl, 1921. SerialjNo. 451,277. y Y

'Vments, the wig being shown as braided,

shorter and-longer upper forward exten-V sions of the front section 10, that are adapted to overlap the associated ends of the layers 18 and 19, as shown more clearly at Figure 2, and wliichare adapted to be finally .CSE

secured together, as would be indicated by the lines of stitching 22 and 28, as indicated at Figure 3. ,l f-

The upper front layer section 20-21, behind the face portion as will later appear, does not form an immediate backing for said i face portion, but provides a distinct front head chamber 24, to receive a soft packing material such as raw cotton or the like, and a real1 head chamber 25 which may be packed with soft rags vor other, suitable .materiah while the bust chamber 26 is likewise packed with such a soft rag or analogous filling.

27 indicates an Ainternal support extending through the bust chamber 26 and well up into the rear headV chamber p' 25, which internal support is shown as being enveloped with a spirally wrapped fabric covering 28.` This'internal support is shown as a clothes-pin, and the structureof a clothespin may have its advantages, but obviously v any other suitable form of internal support would suffice. rlhe functioning of all of the foregoing, however, will later appear more clearly.

The body trunkcasing provides an elongated chamber 30 that maybe filled with sawdust, and if desired a lower packing of rags or other material 3l may be employed, whichfis finally bottomedV by Vthe closure flap 16. y The face, chest, front neck and shoulders and the upper bust portions maybe integrally formed of alternate layers of paper and fabric, having an exterior coating of paint and finishing enamel. In the drawings only three such layers of paper and fabricate illustrated, the intermediate layer 32 being paper, while the outer and inner layers are of fabric, and the paint or enamel exterior coating is indicated at 3,4. in actual practice, however, there maybe more layers, if desired,and the extreme inner layer should be of paper, all of which will fully Vappear later on.

The actual thickness of all layers are naturally exaggerated for clearness of illustration in section, and in forming the face section the upper edge portion ofthe outer fabric layer 33 may be a little longer than the other layers to provide a marginal lap or strip 35, that is adapted to lap over and be secured to the fabric sections 18-20-21, while the lower edge portion of the outer fabric 33 may also be alittle longer, if desired, to be turned in behind the inner layer,

l as would be indicated at 36.

Y being understood that the-front and rear Analogously the rear neck and shoulders, and the upper back, are formed of layers of paper 37, fabricS and an exterior coating of paint and finishing enamel 39, it

sections are adapted to be stitched together as Vat 55, with the stitching later covered bythe extending side marginal flap and afinal coating of enamel lor paint. Also the sections provide complementary arm pit openings, as will be obvious, for receiving the flexibly suspended arms, the forearms other forms of dolls, that are provided with wigs, one of thc mainobi ecti'ons thereto has been the diiliculty of so applyingthe wig that its hair could be combed in a natural wa and without tearing the wig to pieces, Y ne of the most important features of my improvements resides in the novel manner of attaching a wig that will' be free. from the objections heretofore encountered.

Vith this end'inV view, l preferably make the wig in two sections, indicated at 45 and 46, the outer edges of which are turned under as at 47andv 48, and the inner edges of which are contiguously disposed as at 49, and bythis arrangement it will be seen that the hair will appear as natural outgrowth from the scalp as would be indicated VatO and 51. As a matter of illustration only, l have 1 also shown abang-strip 52 immediately anterior of the wig section proper, and likewise a Vposterior Strip 53 at the rear base of thesection 46, but it will be understood that these are not at all essential to the primary invention.

As has been vbefore stated, the face, the

integrally Vformed of alternate layers of paper and fabric having an exterior coating of paint and finishing enamel, and this may be accomplished substantially in the following manner Y First there is placed over a mould-forni, of any suitable type, a layer of wet thin paper, such as strong tissue paper which is firmly smoothedover the face of the mouldform with a damp cloth to work out all of the wrinkles. I then apply a layer of suitable fabric, preferably soft muslin which should be-very pliable or exactly bias so that it can ',be smoothly applied over the paper layer. This piece of fabric is preferably cut to provide slight gashes in the cloth, anda triangular bias vpiece is particularly suitable, whereby a Smooth fit is assured around the ears and under the chin.

During theseV steps the fabric and paper layers are maintained thoroughly wet. in-

Y other coating layer of uncooked flour paste,

or its equivalent, is thenapplied and these successive layers are alternately repeated until the several layers appear to be saili-V `ciently stable toabsorb and hold the outer coating of'paint. f

AsV a matter of factshellac may also be employed, if needed, but this is not .strictly essential and it is believed that the face and i bust portions are more pliable, or life-like thoroughly dried and set, after which the.

exterior layer may be painted with any suitable number of coats of paint, the last one of which should bev of a vflesh colored tint. Finally there may be applied a coating of tinted enamel, after' which such features as the eyes, eyebrowsand eyelashes, may be applied, and the lips and cheeks tinteolv for properly bringing .ou-t a more natural eX- pression. Y l

As a matter of fact the painting of the face and its integral portions may be done before or after applyingfthe wig, as later referred to, but it is believed to Vbe"bestto paint the face last, so that there will be lless chances of marring the features, it being understood thatthese doll features should be as; varied and` original Vin. type `Vas those 'of little children.

` The rearhalf section of the upper lpart ofthe body,A as indicated by the layers 37- 38-39, is formed in the same manner and requires no specific description.' This is also true with reference to the painting and enameling of the forearm and hand sections. In applying the wig to the face portion, the forward edge of the section 45'is first Y stitched around the marginal iiap 35 of the face, asl would be indicated at 47, and is adapted tobe folded back rearwardly over the edge portion 47.

Althoughnot essential to the invention at all, it may be saidthat it is necessary toprotect the hair ofthe wig from the paint appliedto the face. To do this, I mark a hair-line, around the forehead and behind the ears, as a guide for sewing onthe wig. I then sew over this4 a piece of paraiiin papersuiiciently large to fold back with the wig. The wig is then securely stitched on in position, to be turned back from the face as heretofore described. Y-Vhen the facehas been painted, and after the paint hasv become dried. this paratlin paper can readily be torn'away. l 1

c The rear upper body section may also beformed with a marginal 'Hap of fabric, anal ogously to the flap 35, Vtowhich the rear marginal edge of the wig section 46 may be stitched, as indicated at 48, it being understood that the sections 45 and 46 are adapted to be'folded over towards each other and stitched along ftheir contiguous edges as at 49. v Y

`W'ithout-Lconsidering the bang-strip 52 or rear base strip `53, it will be seen at 50 and 5l that the hair-of the wig, along these positions, appears as a natural outgrowth from the scalp, and can be combed in any direction the same as natural growing hair, without the comb engaging underneath and displacing the imitation scalp section of the wig. r

rIfhere may be several ways of assembling the doll structure .as a whole and in some cases, for instance, the front and rear upper sections might be stitched together along the line 5v5, andl sewedto the. trunk body section as a unit, whether of .aV full stuffed or hollow formation and whether or not a soft cotton background for the face' portion was employed.

I shall, however, specifically describe the exact building up o f the doll as shown in the drawings by Way of illustration.

We will assume that the face section and theV rear upper'section. have. been properly molded andare to be now applied to the trunk body portion.

The lower edge of the bust portion is stitched around the front section of the body casing with the finishing front band 42. A softpacking material may then be placedinside the molded'. face portion, as indicated at' 24, then the extension layers 20 and 2l maybe stitched together and to the marginal Hap 35, underneath the latter. In an analogous manner the rear upper section may be stitchedfto the trunk portion with the rear finishing band 42, the extensions 18 and 19 being properly secured by tially stuffed before the extensions 18 and l9are stitched in place, but itwould be just as easy to stuff the interior byway of the trunk portion. 1

Therear head' chamber'having been substantially stuffed with a rag packing or the like, it.` will be seeni that the extension layers 2O and 21 function as a membrane which is forced with an even p-ressure towards the molded'k face portion, for packing the soft cotton in the chamber 24 snugly up against the rear of the face portion as a pliable backing therefor.

Then the chamber 25 has been substantially packed, there may be wedged up into the packing the upper end of the internal support 27, around which there has first been spirally wound a cloth covering 28, functioningasan additional `filling. This not onl;v aids in packing the rags in .the head chamber 25, but it also serves as an internal support longitudinally of the neck between the bust and the head portions, providing for a limited play or flexible movement of the head and neckwith reference to the body portion.V4 Even though a clothespin be employed for this support, it may be more desirable to have its upper end beveled or cone-shaped instead of as shown.

The bust'portion may then be packed with ragsy or the `like around the lower end of the internal support, as would be indicated at 26, and if a neck support analogous to a'clothes pin is used, a wedging element, not shown, could beyin'serted be-V tween its bifurcated arms, for spreading them apart slightly to make the stuffing'- 26 even more compact, if desired,`after initial packing home.

The trunk-body chamber 230 may then be filled with sawdust, or other filling material, which may be finally bottomedfby a packing 31 vthat is. heldin place by the closure flap 16, which latter is then se-V cured as by the stitching 17. A Y

Finally, it may besaid that the wig is preferablyformed fromthe silk-like4 coats of longhaired animals, `suchv as` Angora goats or the like. Y. i

It is believed that theadvantages of all of the foregoing features will be quite apparent to those who arevfamilia-.r with the desires of children v vtowards more humanlike dolls, as wellv as to those who understand the'necessity fon-making such dolls as indestructible as reasonably possible. While l' have thus disclosed certain preferred embodimentl .of Ymy invention, it may later be found to lb'e'expedient or desirable to make some alterations yin the structural formand arrangement ofthe parts, but without, departing :from the spirit of the invention, and it will be understood, therefore, Athat I fdo not necessarily restrict myself to all of the details ex actly as disclosed, exceptinglas they may come :within the terms of the ensuing claims, when fairly interpreted in the light of the specification, if necessary, or equivalent features. i

What I do claim, as new and patentable,

1. A doll structure, providing a. lower flexible body casing, adapted to be stuffed, and normally open at its bottomfor the insertion1 f the stuflingmaterial, legs attached to said casing forwardly of -said bottom opening, and a flap so dimensioned and secured along its forward edge as to extend rearwardly below said opening as a closure therefor, with the remaining edge of said flap secured around the rear bottom edge of said casing, substantially as-described,

2. A doll structure, providing a normally hollow head and a pliant face portion, the

said hollow'head having a transversely dischamber, a ysoft packing material filling said forward chamber as a pliant backing for said face portion, andY a filling material packed in said rear chamber,for lling the latter and also Vuniformly pressing said flexible partition up against said soft packing material contained in said forward chamber, substantially as described.`

3. A doll structure, providing a` normally hollow head, a lower flexible bodyzcasing adapted to be stuffed, and a pliantly formed face, neck'and bust section, the front of said flexible .body n casing being extended upwardly to provide va flexible partition transversely disposed within` said hollow'head to form a restricted forward chamber, encompassing the rear of said face portion, and a larger rear chamber, a soft packing material filling said forward chamber as a pliant backing forsaidface portion, and a filling material packed in said rear chamber and up against said flexible partition, substantially as described.

4. A doll structure, providing a normally hollow head, a lower flexible body casing and a filling' material packed in said rear Y chamber and up against said flexible partition, substantially as described.

5. A doll structure, providing ,a normally hollow head, a lower flexible body casing adapted to be stuffed, anda pliantly formed face, neck and bust section, which section is built up of alternate layers of paper, fabric and a pasty binder substance, the section being exteriorly coated with paint, tinting coloring and a finishing enamel, and the organs and features of expression being hand painted thereon, a flexible partition transversely disposed within said hollow head and forming a restricted forward chamber, encompassing the rear of -said face portion, and a larger rear chamber, the said flexible partition comprising an upwardly extended continuation of the front of said lower flexible body casing, asoft packing material fill-V adapted to be stued, and pliant upper back, bust, neck and face portions, formed of alternate flexible layers of suitable material and a pasty binder substance, suitably Vmolded into shape, which portions are suitably coated eXteriorly with paint and a finishing enamel, and the organs and features of expression of the face being hand painted thereon for giving individuality thereto, a flexible partition transversely disposed within said hollow head and forming a restricted forward chamber, encompassing the rear of said face portion, and a larger rear chamber, a soft packing material filling said forward chamber as a pliant backing for said face portion, a filling material .packed in said rear chamber and up against said flexible sections relatively partition, and an internal support extending through said neck portion and projecting substantially within said head and bust portions, substantially as described.

7 In doll structures, the method of applying a wig on the head thereof, which consists in first securing the outer marginal edge of the wig to the head, turning the body portion of the wig inwardly over said marginal edge, and finally securing the body portion of the wig to the head portion also, substantially as set forth.

8. In doll structures, the method of applying a wig on the head thereof as forward and rear sections, which consists in initially securing the outer marginal edge of the wig to the head with the hair side down, turning the body portion of the wig inwardly over said marginal edge, and finally securing the free edges of the wig to the head portion, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof, I affix my si ature.

JESSIE W. FELK ER. 

